Monthly Archives: September 2018

Trade unions and social protection experts from around the world have come together in Brussels this week to identify how financing social protection can and should be strengthened. Representatives from over 30 trade unions, along with academics, civil society organisations, government officials and international organisations discussed the range of options that governments have at their disposal to finance the extension of social protection to all people. They agreed that social protection floors for all are financially feasible in all countries and that governments need to get their priorities right to fund them.

On average over 16% of European Social Fund (ESF) is identified for supporting Active Inclusion. Active Inclusion is considered to be approaches which foster the participation of people distant from the labour market by addressing the barriers to their participation including through access to essential services, adequate income and accessible labour markets. At a joint meeting of the Thematic Network on Inclusion (part of the ESF Platform) and the European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) to be held in Madrid on 20 and 21 September, representatives of Managing authorities and stakeholders will come together to discuss and share information on how this aspect of ESF is being developed and implemented. Examples from Spain, Italy, Slovenia and Belgium will inform the discussions. Examples of the application of the active inclusion approach will also be given from Denmark and Netherlands. Recommendations on how to strengthen and further develop this approach will be developed at the meeting. To ensure you receive the report of the meeting and other related information sign up to follow: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/transnationality and www.emin-eu.net

The European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) brings together representatives of Administration and stakeholders from 8 countries to share ideas and practice about the use of reference budgets for policy purposes. Antwerp University is hosting and supporting the exchange of practice on 18 and 19 September. The Reference budgets being spoken about are priced baskets of goods and services that are needed to live in dignity and to participate in the society. The meeting will discuss current approaches to the use of Reference budgets and their comparability. The meeting will also discuss the use of Reference budgets for the assessment of benefit levels, for debt counselling, and for development of individual support services. A full report of the meeting and the recommendations developed will be available www.emin-eu.net in the near future.